Category: Uncategorized

Leith birthday celebration to make a splash

Fishkeeper to celebrate their successful second year in Edinburgh

fishFishkeeper Scotland by Maidenhead Aquatics are celebrating the second anniversary of their popular Edinburgh store with a weekend of activities, giveaways, competitions, prizes and unrepeatable special offers on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August. There will also be a raffle draw in aid of charity, and the birthday event is sure to appeal to fishkeepers in the region.

Maidenhead Aquatics is the UK’s leading specialist aquatics retailer offering everything for the fishkeeper. Established in 1984 with over 100 outlets across the UK they opened their first Scottish store Fishkeeper Glasgow in 2010, which has already netted several awards including “Best Aquatics Shop in Scotland”. More recently this was followed by the opening of Fishkeeper Edinburgh in August 2012 and Fishkeeper
Inverness in July 2013.

Fishkeeper Edinburgh have also gained their own accolades including “Runner up
Discus Retailer of the Year” and “Runner up Best Aquatics Shop in Scotland” ( only surpassed by their sister shop in Glasgow !)

Fishkeeper Edinburgh stocks everything for the Scottish fishkeeper with a particular focus on tropical freshwater and marine aquariums and livestock, as well as equipment for the pond and watergarden.

Maidenhead Aquatics partner Colin Christian said “We are excited to celebrate our second birthday and want to give something back to the customers that have supported us so strongly over the past year whilst raising well needed funds for charity at the same time. As well as some great special offers and giveaways,  as always there will be activities for junior fishkeepers and plenty of cake and balloons to take away!”

Fishkeeper Edinburgh is open seven days a week and located within Leith Mills (James Pringle Clearance Outlet) on Bangor Road, Leith, in Edinburgh.

Go on, dive in!
www.fishkeeper.co.uk

A city for all ages? Have your say!

Edinburgh from Calton HillAre you aged over fifty?  Do you have an opinion on city services?  Of course you do!  Share your views at a session in Stockbridge next week:

EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council) are holding discussion groups for older people (aged 50+) across the city as part of its evaluation of ‘A City for All Ages’. The North event will take place next Monday (14 July) from 2- 3.30pm at Stockbridge Library.

Participants can either drop in for a short time, or stay longer.

We are keen to get as many local older people along to this as possible to hear their views on what services are provided and where there is room for improvement.

If you are in this age group, please come along on Monday and take part. We’d also appreciate, if you represent a local group, if you can bring this to the attention of any older people your project is in touch with, and encourage them to come along, or please consider bringing a group of clients along? Refreshments will be provided and the event will be informal.

Any questions, please contact Alex.clark@evoc.org.uk, tel 555 9100

ACFAA Northgroup poster July

StockbridgeLibrary

Edible Edinburgh food plan served up in Muirhouse

commfoodLocal growers, food groups, community gardeners and volunteers fashioned up a feast to celebrate the unveiling of the Edible Edinburgh Sustainable Food City Plan at Muirhouse Community Shop on Pennywell Road yesterday.

Developed in consultation with the public, the food plan aims to motivate Edinburgh to develop a healthy and sustainable approach to food, one which will bring social, economic and environmental benefits to the whole community – latest figures show that over two thirds of people across the Lothians eat less than the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day.

The six-year plan is based on feedback from the public and outlines six distinct themes which need to be addressed in order to achieve its vision of Edinburgh as a sustainable food city. These are: Health and wellbeing, Land use, Environment, Buying food, Economy and Cultural change.

A series of actions have been set out within each theme in order to work towards key outcomes, including more fresh and healthy food eaten, fewer people living in food poverty, the protection of our natural environment and a thriving local food economy.

Efforts will be coordinated by Edible Edinburgh, a cross-sector steering group from the public, private and third sectors, including City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian.

City of Edinburgh Council’s Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, who chairs the Edible Edinburgh steering group, welcomed the launch of the plan.

She said: “We are proud to be launching this plan in collaboration with our partners, who have worked with the public to ensure our vision and targets are realistic and relevant for achieving a sustainable food city for all.

“Food is central for everyone in Edinburgh, and there are a great many groups who work tirelessly towards a greener, fairer and healthier city. By building on their efforts we are determined to expand this enthusiasm to residents across the capital.”

commfood2Dr Margaret Douglas, consultant in public health medicine with NHS Lothian, added: “Edible Edinburgh’s vision is of ‘a city where good food is available for all.’ Healthy affordable food is essential for good health but for too many this is not yet a reality. Projects like Pilton Community Gardeners are showing the way by involving local people in growing healthy food and improving the local environment.

“We need change at many levels if the causes of diet-related ill health are to be tackled. Partnerships like Edible Edinburgh can help coordinate public, private, voluntary and community sector action to push for a fairer food city.”

Iain Stewart, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Community Food, said: “Community food groups play a vital role in addressing inequalities by getting local people involved in making good food available locally. At Edinburgh Community Food we support this effort by providing food and health promotion sessions and supplying food projects throughout the city with a range of healthy affordable food products.”

Community gardeners

Appeal for witnesses following Leith assault

police (2)Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a man was assaulted in Leith earlier this month. They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who came to the aid of the man during the vicious attack – which took place in board daylight.

The 29-year-old victim was subjected to an unprovoked attack while walking south on the bridge crossing the Water of Leith at the north end of Great Junction Street.

He was punched and kicked by three teenagers during the incident, which took place at around 3pm on Tuesday 17 June.

It’s understood that members of the public intervened to stop the assault and Police Scotland are very keen to trace those people.

Police Constable Iona McWilliam said: “This was a terrifying and unprovoked attack on a man and enquiries are underway to identify the three men responsible.

“It took place in the middle of the afternoon and we would urge anyone who witnessed the event or who may know something that would help our investigation to come forward immediately.”

The first suspect is described as white, aged between 16 and18, of slim build, and wearing a grey hooded top and grey jogging bottoms.

The second man is also described as white, aged between 16 and 18, of slim build, wearing a grey hooded top and grey tracksuit bottoms, and he was carrying a black drawstring sports bag at the time.

The third suspect is described as white, aged between 16 and 18, and of slim build, and he was wearing a black top with a white Adidas logo on side.

Anyone with information on this incident can contact Police Scotland on 101 or, alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Join Sainsbury’s Big Jump!

sby

I’m writing to let you know about a fantastic sporting event taking place at Sainsbury’s Blackhall on Thursday 3 July to promote the Sainsbury’s Glasgow Grand Prix, which takes place at Hampden Park on 12 and 13 June.

The event will see some of the world’s greatest athletes take part in the two-day competition, including double Olympic champion Mo Farah, Olympic long jump champion Greg Rutherford and one of the fastest men of all time, Yohan Blake. The Grand Prix is part of Sainsbury’s Summer Series, which is made up of five fantastic athlete and para-athlete events taking place across the country.

In the run-up to the Glasgow Grand Prix, we’re holding a sporting competition called ‘The Big Jump’, in four Sainsbury’s stores across Glasgow and Edinburgh. The events will see a full-size long jump track set up in our Sainsburys Blackhall car park on 3 July between 10am and 4pm. Throughout the day, we’ll be encouraging customers to take part. 

Every participant will be entered into a free prize draw to win a family ticket to the Grand Prix and have the chance of taking part in a special ‘Sainsbury’s Long Jump’ event at Hampden Park on 11th July.

The event is free and it’s the first time we’ve ever held a sporting activity like this across our Scottish stores. It’s a great opportunity for children and their families to come along and be part of ‘The Big Jump’.

If you require any more details about the event, please call me on 0131 332 0704 or e-mail prl.blackhall@sainsburys.co.uk. We will also be advertising this event in-store.

Many thanks for getting involved in ‘The Big Jump’!

Gail Wilson

Sainsbury’s Blackhall

MS Therapy Centre seeks volunteers for Golden Mile

The MS Therapy Centre is looking for volunteers this Sunday (22 June) to take part in the Golden Mile Walks.

As part of the Centre’s 30th anniversary, it is looking for each volunteer to raise £30 which will make a difference to all those in the Lothians living with multiple sclerosis.

Nancy Campbell, Operations Manager at the Centre, said: “With a choice of walking one, two or three miles we hope Edinburgh people who may be at a loose end on Sunday and fancy a walk will take part in the Golden Mile Walks and raise much needed funds for us.

“Nearly 2,500 people in the Lothians live with the debilitating condition of MS and our Centre provides a life line for many. We are there for practical and emotional support and only exist because of the generosity of others.”

The Golden Mile Walks take place at 11:30 am at the Edinburgh College Sports Grounds (formerly Civil Service Club), Marine Drive, Silverknowes.

For more information go www.challengescotland.com

Keir blasts development plan decision

Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has reacted furiously to yesterday’s decision by councillors to approve a new local development plan, and said the fight to save green belt land at Cammo and Maybury will go on.

A meeting of the city council’s Planning Committee approved the latest Proposed Local Development Plan yesterday but the local MSP feels the legitimate fears of local people have been ignored.

Mr Kerr said: “I am deeply disappointed with the outcome of the meeting today. There were a huge number of objections made on good planning grounds to the release of Greenbelt land at Maybury and Cammo from local residents. These objections have been ignored and the sites remain in the plan.

“There were alternatives to the course of action taken by the Capital Coalition councillors today but quite simply they did not have the gumption or backbone to make the right decision for the communities of Western Edinburgh.

“Constituents of mine who made valid objections will be left feeling angry and ignored. Both Maybury and Cammo have been subject to planning applications recently precisely because those sites are included in the proposed plan. Those applications will not go away because of the action today – developers wishing to develop the Greenbelt will merely be encouraged.

“I have campaigned against development on these sites for ten years. I am not giving up the fight and will continue to object to development of these sites.”

Mr Keir is a supporter of The Campaign Against the Development of Cammo & Maybury (CADCAM), which was formed to campaign against the removal of greenfield sites at Cammo and Maybury from green belt designation in order to develop the sites for up to a combined total of 2100 houses.

The proposal to release this land for housing forms part of the proposed Local Development Plan, and the group argues that their communities will be adversely affected by further development.

CADCAM argue that junctions at Maybury, East Craigs and Barnton are already struggling at peak times and that proposed new developments will multiply that problem.

An added concern is poor air quality which affects both St John’s Road and Queensferry Road (both have been singled out recently as among the worst polluted roads in the country) – which is only likely to get worse with increased traffic – and they also believe that the community infrastructure – schools, GP and dental surgeries, etc. – will be put under unbearable pressure.